BREAKING NEWS: Rail strike suspended

Further strike action affecting Southern services has been suspended as rail bosses and union officials are set to resume talks.

The RMT union started the five-day walkout on Monday (August 6) against Govia Thameslink Railway’s plans to change the role of conductors, but action planned for tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday has been called off as both sides have agreed to resume negotiations.

Southern said that Thursday’s services would still be running to the strike timetable but it would do its best to add services, while on Friday it plans to revert to the revised timetable operating before the strike.

A spokesman for Acas, the mediation service hosting the talks, said: “Southern and the RMT are returning to talks tomorrow under the auspices of Acas. Strike action has been suspended for Thursday and Friday.”

A spokesman for Southern added: “We are encouraged that the RMT has accepted our offer to resume talks at ACAS and has agreed to call off its strike action. For our passengers sake we truly hope these talks will be productive and bring this long running dispute to an end.

“At present, the strike timetable is still in the industry train planning systems for Thursday and Friday.

“Regrettably, this means tomorrow’s service will be based upon the present strike timetable but we will do our very best to add services in and extend the hours of operation wherever possible.

“On Friday we plan to revert to the revised timetable operating before the strike. We will update our website www.southernrailway.com as further information becomes available.”

More to follow.

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